Revolutionary War

I now have several books published on the American Revolution, including "George Washington and the Continental Army: 1777/1778", "Heroes and Heroines of the American Revolution" and "South Carolina and Georgia in the American Revolution". I also have a set of lectures available on the Revolutionary War (see "Guest Speaker" tab).

South Carolina and Georgia in the American Revolution

To most Americans, there is a gap in their knowledge as to what happened in the American Revolution between the Battle of Monmouth (June 28, 1778), and the surrender of Cornwallis to Washington at Yorktown (October 19, 1781). Most people know that there was fighting in the South, and the name Banastre Tarleton (and the move “The Patriot“) may come to mind, but the details are a bit fuzzy.

This book looks at the fighting in two of those states – Georgia, and South Carolina. While I would never claim that the Revolutionary War was won or lost in my home state of Georgia, one probably could make the case that the Revolution was won in South Carolina, because of a brave group of Colonial regular army, militia and partisan leaders and soldiers. The battles of Sullivan’s Island, Cowpens and Kings Mountain were significant victories for the Colonials, and the latter two were key battles in winning the Revolution.

The focus of this book is the Revolutionary War in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. And while the primary focus is on military operations, major political events are included, also, such as the First and Second Continental Congresses, and the approval of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Of course, we'll examine Washington’s victories at Trenton, Princeton, Whitemarsh and Monmouth, as well as his defeats at Brandywine, Fort Mifflin and Germantown. And, we’ll examine the miracle of Valley Forge, where a former Prussian officer turned the Continentals into an army to be reckoned with. But we'll also look at lesser known battles, such as Crooked Billet, Gloucester, Springfield and Wyoming.

The heroes and heroines of the American Revolution were monumental figures that changed not only America but the world. Some of them were brave on the battlefield (Washington, Daniel Morgan, Francis Marion, Molly Pitcher, Margaret Corbin). Some were brilliant political thinkers, who gave the world a new form of governance (Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison). Some were great patriot writers and orators for the cause (Henry, Warren, Paine). Some of them came from overseas to help the American cause (von Steuben, Lafayette). Some were great diplomats (Franklin, John Adams). Some were spies who risked their lives for the cause (Lydia Darragh), and some of them forfeited their lives (Nathan Hale). And some were revolutionaries who risked their fortunes and good names for the Revolution (John Hancock, Samuel Adams).

This book examines 32 heroes and heroines of the American Revolution. The book includes 50 illustrations.

The focus of this book is the operations of the Continental Army in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 1777/78, under the direct command of General George Washington. We’ll examine Washington’s victories at Trenton, Princeton, Whitemarsh and Monmouth, as well as his defeats at Brandywine and Germantown. And, we’ll examine the miracle of Valley Forge, where a former Prussian officer turned the Continentals into an army to be reckoned with.

1777/78 proved that the Continental Army could go head to head with the British (and their allies the Hessians), and hold their own. And it proved that Washington was one of the great generals of the era.

This edition contains 40+ photos, maps and engravings.

Colonial Georgia: 1733 - 1800﻿

This book looks at the history of Colonial Georgia from 1732-1800. It includes the founding of Georgia as a colony by James Oglethorpe, its time as a Royal Colony under three Royal governors, the Revolutionary War, and its first years as a state of the United States. Along the way, we meet some interesting people, including the aforementioned Oglethorpe, his friend Chief Tomochichi, Mary Musgrove, the Empress of Georgia, John & Charles Wesley, who spent two (unsuccessful) years in Georgia, George Whitefield, and Johann Bolzius, pastor of the Salzburger congregation in Ebenezer, Georgia. And we'll examine Oglethorpe's invasion of Florida, and the Spanish invasion of Georgia in 1742.

In Revolutionary War times, we meet the three signers of the Declaration of Independence from Georgia – Lyman Hall, George Walton and Button Gwinnett. We meet some great military leaders from Georgia, including Elijah Clarke, Samuel Elbert and Lachlan McIntosh. And one hero that is in a class by herself – Nancy Hart. We look at some significant Georgia battles, including Kettle Creek, Brier Creek and the Siege of Savannah.

After the Revolutionary War, we'll watch as Georgia takes its first nascent steps towards self-government, as well as what is perhaps the greatest governmental scandal in Georgia's history – the Yazoo Land Fraud, when Georgia legislators took bribes to sell large tracts of land in Alabama and Mississippi to speculators.﻿